The Proposal:
For my project, I want to write an instrumental track inspired greatly by the original soundtrack from the popular video game DOOM (2016). This heavy-metal soundtrack was composed by Mick Gordon, and features heavy detuned guitars combined with the vast use of synthesisers, samplers, and effects pedals to create an impactful soundtrack fitting of the hellish setting portrayed in the game.
I intend to do something similar to this, as the fusion of heavy-metal and synthesisers isn’t typically a common combination in current music and the sound it can make can become very interesting and complex.
I’m aiming to have my composition sound as though it could fit into the DOOM soundtrack, but also keep the riffs and structure original to a point where the track is still my own and doesn’t sound too much like a copy. I want to think of it as more of a tribute to the original game, and something you can listen to on its own.
I will be recording my composition on Ableton Live 10 from home as organising getting a full band together and producing some live recordings is not a realistic possibility at the moment due to Covid-19 restrictions.
I have already found a few really good plug-ins for Ableton, covering several synths, to guitar and bass amps, and will be looking into finding more to experiment with as I progress.
Finally I will be using a sampler in this composition, and I had the idea to take samples of gunshots and various sound effects from the game and use them on a drum rack in Ableton. The low-end sound of a gunshot or explosion could make for a powerful kick drum, while the short mid-range snap of a pistol or laser can act as a snare. At the time of writing this the idea is simply a concept in my head, but I am hoping this will expand and evolve into a fully complete idea as the project develops as this could really set my piece apart as being unique.
In addition to the drum rack idea above, I also will be taking various clips of ambient noise from the game and seeing if and where I can apply these extra sounds over my composition.
Key Objectives:
- Record and produce a full composition to a professional standard.
- Implement the use of varying synthesisers and sounds to complement the piece.
- Have a working drum rack of samples I have recorded, and apply this in the composition.
Technology I will be using:
- Synthesisers
- Samplers
- Amplifier and Pedal simulators
- Audio effects such as pitch shift
Weekly Schedule/plan:
Week commencing 23rd November:
I will be doing research into finding, installing, and trying out various synthesiser plug-ins. Good sources to find new plug-ins are sites such as Sound on Sound, and even You-Tube as I can listen to examples before downloading anything.
I plan to take some audio recordings of various sound effects from DOOM. To do this I will be capturing some actual gameplay footage and running it through Adobe Premier to take the sound from this footage.
Lastly for this week, I will need to experiment with finding the right guitar tone in Ableton. I already have an amp simulator that is suitable for this project installed, and I have experience setting it up so this shouldn’t be a difficult task to complete.
Week commencing 30th November:
I would like to have produced a demo clip by this time to help work on an overall sound for the track as this helps me keep a clear vision on how I want the whole composition to go. This isn’t an essential objective for me as it will take valuable time from my schedule, however it could prove useful to the project overall which is why I want to include it in this plan.
I will start writing and recording any riffs and bass lines I come up with. I am always coming up with various new riffs and melodies, and I will be recording any that stand out to me so I have a good library of potential loops and ideas to use. I also already have a small back log of past riffs that I could maybe have a browse through and see if any are worth using.
I want to try find a good balance between the synthesisers and the other instruments. I mainly need to experiment with the levels of instruments here, as I want the synths to take a leading role in my composition, but not drown out the rest of the audio in doing so.
Once I have struck a good balance, I’ll need to play around and save any good sounds I can come up with using the Synths. Synthesisers can be complicated, so when I do find a sound that I find fitting I will save it and keep that setup before I edit anything. This is going to help me build up my catalogue of sounds to use in the full thing.
Week commencing 7th December:
I want to have the start of the track by this point, but ideally have a structure and bass part worked out to build on top of. If I can manage to get a whole bass part and structure down then the rest of the tune should all fall in place over the top, so this is a really major goal for me to accomplish in order for my project to be a success.
I plant to take some videos of the recording process as evidence of progress to reflect on later. I normally do this anyway, however I want to include this in my plan here as I should by this point have a good idea of how the project has come along, and where it is headed. While this may not seem essential, I find video evidence to be incredibly valuable for reflecting on how a project is going, and spotting the best places to improve upon.
Lastly I will be getting to work on using my samples through Ableton’s drum rack plug-in. I really want to have a detailed drum part by the end of this week, and this will be achieved using the samples I will have recorded in the first week with Ableton’s drum rack feature. I might add a midi drum kit in parts depending on my overall progress, but ideally it will all be using the drum rack.
Week commencing 14th December:
Ideally by this point I will have the guitars recorded for the most part so I can focus on using the synths and audio effects. This is my last week for recording guitar parts. I am confident that they will be done prior to this week as the composition progresses, so I will be thinking of this week as more of a guitar deadline than anything else.
This week I’ll be focusing my attention on using the synth sounds I will have been working on to add layers to the tune and build up this new electronic sound to add to the already established metal sound. I want to have a variety of rhythms and melodies included, from long drone notes to fast sharp attacks. This contrast of parts should help build up the texture, without being overpowering overall.
I aim to have my composition to a complete, or near complete, standard by the end of this week. Essentially I want all of the live audio parts finished (guitars and bass) and most, if not all, of the synth lines.
Weeks commencing 21st December and 28th December:
I want to get a mix and master together during these two weeks over the Christmas period as this gives me an easy few days to reflect on the tune and make the odd tweak here and there where necessary. By the end of this time my track should be finished and presentable in its final form at a professional standard.
I will also use these two weeks to review my composition and see if any changes need to be made in order to have fulfilled my objectives.